Combined wiper and knife for operating on shoes



Nov. 6, 1962 3,061,852

COMBINED WIPER AND KNIFE FOR OPERATING ON SHOES Filed Aug. 15, 1960 p. 1.. BRAY ETAL 3 Sheets-Shee t 1 n ven lo r5 Donald LBray Donald B. Johnson lr il By iheirAttorney COMBINED WIPER AND KNIFE FOR OPERATING 0N SHOES Filed Aug. 15. 1960 Nov. 6, 1962 D. L. BRAY ETAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 COMBINED WIPER AND KNIFE FOR OPERATING ON SHOES Filed Aug. 15, 1960 D. L- BRAY ETAL Nov. 6, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lllglllllllllllll United States Patent Ofifice 3,061,852 Patented Nov. 6, 1962 3,061,852 COMBINED WWER AND KNEE FQR OPERATING N HOES Donald L. Bray, Beverly, and Donald B. Johnson, Georgetown, Mass, assignors to United hoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N.J., a corporation of New .lerse y Filed Aug. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 49,768

6 Claims. (Cl. 127.1)

This invention relates to mechanism for lasting the ends of shoes, and is more particularly concerned with the provision, in a lasting machine, of means for shaping a pointed toe by removing excess overwiped material from the margin of an upper on the bottom of the shoe, this means also being effective to perform an overwiping operation on the margin. For purposes of illustration the invention is herein shown as embodied in a forepart, cement lasting machine of the type disclosed in an application Serial No. 788,396, filed January 22, 1959 in the names of A. W. Rockwell, Jr. and E. F. Mitchell, now Patent No. 3,022,527, granted February 27, 1962, but it will be understood that use of the invention is not thus restricted nor is it limited to work upon any one class of shoe construction.

The elimination or reduction of excess, wrinkled stock in the overlasted margin of a shoe upper being conformed to its last has long been a serious problem in manufacturing shoes, especially those being cement flat lasted. The problem, moreover, is more critical and more urgently in need of solution as the toe ends of shoes become, by reason of increasing demands of fashion, narrower and more pointed, thus requiring greater care in their shaping and in eliminating the objectionable projecting portions of pleated material. When the overwiped margin does not lie fiat, a sole cannot thereafter be attached in a neat and attractive manner. Additionally, in the case of pointed toe work, nonremoval of the protruding material from the inwiped margin at the extreme toe end often results in wipers riding upon such material and thereby straining and rupturing a portion of the upper visible in the finished shoe. Various devices have hitherto been devised to aid an operator in removing the unwanted pleated portions of the overlasted margins; in most instances trimming devices separate from the lasting mechanism have been provided for use at a different work station thus requiring extra shoe handling, and in one or two cases a lasting machine has been fitted with independently actuated but somewhat cumbersome upper trimming means under the control of an operator.

In view of the foregoing and in order to facilitate the shaping of the ends of shoes, especially those which are precemented and are to have the margins of their uppers at the toe end wiped inwardly substantially in the plane of their shoe bottoms, it is a primary object of this invention to provide, in combination, in a lasting machine having wipers and power means for operating these wipers, a trimming mechanism operable by the power means for removing excess marginal stock immediately upon its being urged inwardly of a shoe bottom, said mechanism also being effective to operate as a wiper upon the trimmed stock.

To the end just stated, and in accordance with a feature of the invention, there is provided in a lasting machine the combination with a pair of main wipers arranged initially to extend around the toe end of a last having an upper and an insole thereon and along the sides, and power means for advancing these wipers and closing them to wipe the margin of the upper inwardly against the bottom of the last, of a tool operable by the power means between the main wipers, first to trim away excess upper stock at the toe end, which has been at least partly gathered inwardly during operation of the main wipers, and then to wipe inwardly the trimmed margin. As herein shown (in two different forms of construction), the combination tool referred to is, so far as we are aware, of novel character in itself in that it is adapted both to shear off the unwanted material and then to perform an overwiping operation in the critical toe area on the remaining marginal stock. Preferably, the trimmerwiper tool is arranged to operate in substantially the same plane as the operating plane of the main wipers and is operatively connected to a crossbar arranged to actuate their advance and closure. The construction thereby insures, at the proper moment in the course of a cycle of lasting operations wherein the operator is otherwise con cerned with matters of upper positioning and proper direction and degree of stock tensioning, that the unwanted material will be automatically trimmed from the toe bottom and without particular attention on his part.

The foregoing and other features of this invention, together with novel details in construction, will now be more particularly described in connection with an illustrative embodiment and with reference to the accom panying drawings thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a machine for shaping the forepart of a shoe upper to be cement lasted and indicating main wipers and an auxiliary trimmerwiper together with their actuating mechanism, a bed plate being centrally broken away from its left half so that its actuating cams appear in full lines on the left but only in phantom lines on the right;

FIG. 2 is a plan view corresponding to a portion of FIG. 1 and showing an upper on its last and in initial relation to the lasting instrumentalities;

FIG. 3 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 2 but with the wiping and trimming instrumentalities in their subsequent operating positions with respect to the shoe;

FIG. 4 is a section taken in a vertical plane extending lengthwise of a shoe as first presented to a support in the machine and passing through the extreme toe end;

FIG. 5 is a section corresponding to FIG. 4 but showing the wiper-trimmer at one stage of its operation;

FIG. 6 is a section corresponding to FIG. 5 but showing the wiper-trimmer in its final operating position relatively to the shoe and its support;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the wiper-trimmer in the initial portion of the trimming stroke on an overwiped margin; and

FIG. 8 is a view in side elevation of an end portion of a modified form of the wiper-trimmer, the end being partly broken away better to show its shape.

In the Rockwell et a1. patent referred to above and relating to a lasting machine herein partially shown for convenience in illustration, there is described and claimed the. combination with a pair of main wipers 10, 12 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3) initially extending around the toe end of a shoe upper U on its rest L and along its sides, of an auxiliary end wiper. The mounting of that wiper is, in some respects, similar to that of a novel trimmer-wiper hereinafter to be described and found to be of special value in operating upon pointed toe footwear. Shaping of the upper upon its last by means of the exemplary machine, while in general resembling performance of the Rockwell et al. machine employing the toe end wiper not adapted to trim, is diiferent in important detail in the later stages of a cycle as will be made clear. It will be helpful at this point briefly to explain some of the basic structure and procedure common to this type of lasting machine. An operator presents the last L bottom down to the machine with its toe end face against a toe end distributor 16 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) and with an insole I assembled on its frame.

3 bottom in contact with a vertically movable shoe rest generally designated 18 (FIGS. 1, 4 and 6). The margin of the forepart of the upper at this stage, as indicated in FIG. 2, is outspread and extends above the distributor 16 and so-called dog-ear distributors 20, 20 and between the jaws of distributor-grippers 22, 22 and of ball grippers 24, 24 (FIG. 2), respectively. These grippers are then power actuated to seize the margin and provide a forward draft thereon, whereupon the distributors 20, 20 are moved upwardly releasably to clamp the margin against the undersurface of the main wipers 10, 12 which are then stationary and fully open. Next, in order to elevate the last and thus obtain conformity of its upper by heightwise tensioning thereof from the ball area on one side, around the toe end, to the ball area on the other side, the shoe rest 18 is raised by upward movement of a post 26 (FIGS. 1, 4) to the top of which the rest is secured.

This movement ceases when the forepart of the last bottom has arrived between, and substantially in the plane of, the wipers 10, 12, other means then being effective to lock the shoe against displacement due to lasting stresses. Being satisfied with operating conditions, such as the position of the upper on its last, the operator may now initiate operation of the several wipers.

Each of the main wipers 10, 12, as in the Rockwell et a1. construction above cited, is supported by its carrier 28 (FIG. 1) which is provided with a pair of rolls 30, 30 for cooperating with the walls of cam slots 32, 34 respectively formed in a bed plate 36 secured to the main The bed plate underlies a cover only a corner portion of which is shown but which is provided to protect the parts from dust and dirt. For operating these wipers and a combination trimmer-wiper tool 38 (FIGS. 1-8) in appropriate sequence, each carrier is connected by a link 40 to an end of an equalizing lever 42 pivotally secured to a piston rod 44 by means of a pin 46. Arranged on the rear end of the rod 44 is a piston (not shown) operative in a cylinder 50 (FIG. 1) affixed to the frame. The trimmer-wiper 38 is detachably secured at its upturned end to the mid portion of the lever 42 and is formed with a narrower, forwardly extending, flat portion which is slidably supported upon ways or shoulders 52, 52 respectively rabbeted in the inner edges of the main wipers 10, 12. Upper or wiping surfaces of these wipers and of the tool are flush. It will be understood that upon admission of fluid, preferably air, under pressure in the rearward end of the cylinder 50, advance and closure of the main wipers and actuation of the trimmer-wiper 38 are effected against the resistance of a return spring 54 on the rod 44.

For enabling the forward end of the trimmer-wiper 38 to operate on inwardly wiped marginal material of the upper at the extreme toe end, the region which is especially critical in shoes having very pointed or so-called needle toes, the main wipers first bodily advance and commence closure to gather and partially wipe the marginal stock inwardly over the toe edge of the insole I. An excess of upper stock shown in FIGS. and 7 must accordingly then be removed from a central portion of the .toe end, and for this purpose the front end of the tool 38 is formed with beveled faces having a leading cutting edge 56 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 6). Preferably this edge is recessed in V-shape, the bevel faces being disposed toward the insole I. It is found that in crossing the tip edge of the insole before trimming the V-shaped edge is highly beneficial in nicely shaping the extreme toe end of the upper. When it is desired to shear away the excess, overwiped marginal stock somewhat closer to the shoe bottom, an alternate form of the tool 38 (shown in FIG. 8) is used. Thus, as there illustrated, a cutting edge 58 is closer relatively to the upper or wiping surface of the tool 38, and enabled to be closer to the insole during trimming, similar but oppositely inclined bevel faces defining the edge 58 which, as before, is preferably shaped with a recessed apex.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5 inclusive, the adjustable focal point of the main wipers 10, 12 when fully open is substantially at the tip of the toe end of the shoe, a semicircular portion near the inner edge of one main wiper herein being shown as defining the focal point and acting as a pivot bearing for a similarly shaped portion in the other main wiper. In proceeding from the relative positions of parts shown in FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 3, it is rather important to observe that the sequence is such that the main wipers pivot about their focal point partly to close and wipe the margin inwardly against the shoe bottom prior to effective or working advance of the trimmer-wiper 38. The initial in-gathering of marginal stock centrally and at the extreme toe end during the early closing of the main wipers sets up the unwanted excess material (generally in the form of protruding folds or plaits much larger than in adjacent marginal stock) to be severed by the oncoming cutting edge 56 or 58. The main wipers continue closing to complete inward wiping of marginal stock and without interference with the trimmer-wiper 38, the ways 52 initially being angularly divergent from the focal region for this purpose yet now extending in more nearly parallel relation to provide support for subsequent further inward movement of the tool 38 as it finally wipes inwardly the remaining trimmed marginal material as shown in FIG. 6.

This wiping-in at the extreme toe end is relied upon to give clean, taut, unbroken lines in the upper of the finished shoe; without the described preparatory trimming by the tool 38 it is frequently found, if the toe be pointed, that mere wiping-in in this area, as performed by the auxiliary wiper of the mentioned Rockwell et al. construction for instance, produces excessive drag upon and hence too high a tension in the upper about the end of the last which at once causes an unsightly rupture of the upper. Use of the tool 38 eliminates undue straining of the upper by producing a smooth overwiped margin in a single stroke.

In order to sustain the toe end of the insole I in flat unbuckled relation against the last bottom during the trimming-wiping operations on the lasting margin, tiltable articulate supports 60, 62 (FIGS. 1, 4 and S) such as provided in the Rockwell machine or the equivalent thereof preferably are included in the shoe rest 18. It will also be understood that means is provided for shifting the end distributor 16 to a lowered out of the Way position indicated in FIG. 5 when the inwiping and trimming are to occur. The balance of a cycle of operations does not differ from that disclosed in the Rockwell et a1. application referred to.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that this invention provides improved means conveniently operative for shaping the toe ends of shoes, the formation and organization of parts in the critical crowded area of the machine permitting their cooperation in highly effective manner.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an end lasting machine, the combination with a pair of main Wipers arranged initially to extend around the end of a last having an upper and an insole thereon, and power means for bodily advancing and closing the main wipers to wipe the margin of the upper inwardly against the bottom of the last, of a tool operable between the main wipers first to trim away excess marginal stock gathered by the main wipers and then to wipe inwardly the trimmed margin.

2. A machine for shaping uppers over lasts as set forth in claim 1 and further characterized by the provision of means for operatively connecting said tool to said power means.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 1 and further characterized in that the leading edge of the tool is recessed in V-shape and spaced from the wiping surface of the tool for trimming operation between said surface and the wiping surfaces of the main wipers.

4. In a machine for shaping the toe end of a shoe having an upper mounted on its last, a pair of articulate main wipers operable to advance and close substantially in a plane, means for relatively moving the last heightwise with respect to the wipers to tension the upper and position the bottom of the last substantially in said plane with its extreme toe end closely adjacent to the locality in which the main wipers are to commence their closure for wiping the margin of the upper inwardly, and a trimmer-wiper movable lengthwise of the shoe in said plane and across the margin at the toe end after the wipers have partly closed, said main wipers being formed at their adjacent inner edges with angular ways for slidably supporting the trimmer-wiper, the ways initially being divergent heelwardly from said locality and assuming more nearly parallel relation during the closure of the main wipers whereby the trimmer-wiper, after moving across the margin to trim it, is supported to perform an inward wiping movement on the trimmed portion of the margin.

5. In a lasting machine having a shoe support for support for supporting a last having a shoe upper and insole thereon, wiping and trimming means comprising: a pair of symmetrically disposed shoe end embracing wipers; means mounting the wipers for forward and inward movement; drive means operatively connected to the wipers to move them forwardly and inwardly across the insole to wipe the lasting margin of the upper against the insole; guide means formed in adjacent inner surfaces of the wipers; a knife mounted for sliding movement in the guide means; and means to project the knife forwardly of the wipers.

6. The wiping and trimming means according to claim 5 wherein the knife projecting means comprises a connection between the knife and the drive means so that the knife is automatically projected forwardly of the wipers during the forward and inward movement of the wipers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Disclaimer 3,061,852.-D0nald L. Bnay, Beverly, and Donald B. Johnson, Georgetown, Mass. COMBINED WIPER AND KNIFE FOR OPERATING ON SHOES. Patent dated Nov. 6, 1962. Disclaimer filed Nov.

12, 1965, by the assignee, U nited Shoe Machinery Umponatz'on.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1, 2, 5 and 6 of said patent. [Oyfiez'al Gazette May 3, 1966.] 

